What are the practical implications?
The shift to a treatment phase has important practical implications for the public and the NHS. It means that as of today: • GPs will be able to diagnose swine flu on the basis of patients’ symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing. • The routine tracing of people who have come into contact with confirmed cases of swine flu will end. • Schools and other institutions will close only if local circumstances warrant it, for example if a significant number of pupils or teachers are ill. The way in which the antiviral medicines Tamiflu and Relenza are used and distributed will also change: • The medicines will continue to be offered to all those who show symptoms of swine flu at their doctor’s discretion. • They will no longer be given to completely healthy people simply to slow the spread of swine flu. • They will be used for prevention (prophylaxis) only on the advice of a doctor in high-risk groups. These include people with long-term conditions, those over 65, children under fi
